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Tuesday, 3 April 2012

Painted Furniture

Well hello everybody, it seems a while since I posted - nearly a week!

I hope you are all well, and that you've been enjoying the sunny spring weather.

And a very warm welcome to all my new followers!

In answer to your many kind comments in the last post, the car is back (hooray!) but is still not right (boo!!!) and am waiting for yet another car part which will hopefully once and for all sort out the problem - lucky they are not charging me for any more parts or labour since the expensive bit last week. What a nuisance it has been!

But as you will see if you click on the links they are still sad, empty shops, which is why I have been busy beavering away these last few weeks making goodies to fill the shelves, which is why I haven't been over to see you much recently at your blog - I am sorry for that and will try and visit you soon.

* I signed up for an Annie Sloan paint workshop!

pieris

I am lucky to have an Annie Sloan stockist in a nearby town, and a friend and I had planned a trip there last week as she had heard they were going to be doing some workshops.

Although Annie Sloan isn't personally running any workshops in the UK this year, stockists of her paint are being trained to run them themselves - see Annie Sloan's website for details of where.

But for you lucky people in the US, Annie Sloan is touring the US this year - visit her website and her blog Paint and Colour for details - although having just had a quick look it looks as if they are over already - they were late March/early April dates, unless there is another lot to come.

I have three of Annie's books - Creating the French Look (2011), Quick and Easy Paint Transformations (2010) and The Painted Furniture Source Book (1998).

For beginners or those new to Annie Sloan paints I recommend the Quick and Easy Paint Transformations, as in this book she covers all the basics and has lots of projects using different styles and techniques, and plenty of illustrations of the job in progress - a really useful book

Any one new to Annie Sloan's Chalk Paints will find them a revelation - you can just whack the paint on - no stripping, no sanding, no priming or undercoating, no preparation required at all although a quick wipe over first would be good!

Below are a few photos of projects that I have done using Annie Sloan paints.

An Edwardian gentleman's chair picked up for £15 from eBay, painted in Country Grey, then distressed, waxed in both antique and clear wax, then touched up in places with gold paint.

As you can see, it's awaiting re-upholstery (if its lucky!) or at the very least, some new fabric, and although I love the faded shabby look as it is, the back has a large split so it really has to be done!

The kitchen shelf above the Rayburn, painted in Country Grey then sanded.

The first piece I painted in Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - a two drawer chest painted in two coats of Paris Grey, then clear waxed and sanded then a little Antique wax to finish.

I painted over the handles then rubbed them back

a brown wood nest of (3) tables £10 from a charity shop painted last week in Original

An old pine TV cabinet bought for £5 off eBay painted in Country Grey, sanded and waxed in Antique wax.

It had rather horrible large pine pull handles which I removed and replaced with these pewter knobs

And the dresser base which I painted in Country Grey, but which had not been finished - neither waxed nor any thought given to the handles, and which after consulting with you all a few posts ago I have decided to paint the base and top (keeping the newly painted Duck Egg on the back boards) in either Old Ochre or Original - but first I need to see how the Old Ochre comes up on a smaller piece of furniture.

An old oak standard lamp that I picked up for a song at a boot fair I painted in Provence last year

Love the bright quirkiness of this, although Mr G had his reservations at first - of course he doesn't really notice these things anyway thankfully so I can get away with them!

As long as he has a comfy chair, the TV and the remote........

Oak barley twist table in Country Grey

Well, I think that's all of the Annie Sloan painted pieces so far - my next little painting project will be a quick job and I'll show you that next time.

But I also have another larger project on the go which I mentioned in my last post - part done, still more to go before I can reveal that though.

Anyway, back to sewing for now - after receiving some lovely vintage fabrics last week, shown in my last post, I have lots to do. I shall be busy sewing when I can during this Easter holiday, and also aim to get some items in my shops during that time.

I took some garden photos last week which I shall share soon, along with a Giveaway which will celebrate either the opening of the online shops with some stock, or reaching 200 followers, which ever comes first!

14 comments:

You really do get busy with your paintbrush Gill. Your furniture looks great, all very French (which is always a good thing)!!!Wishing you lots of luck with your shops but I'm sure you will be very successful! :)Have a lovely Easter, I had hoped to get into the garden but unless this weather improves greatly that may not happen!Vivienne x

Hello Gill:We hope that you are having a lovely Easter holiday and enjoying your wonderful garden.

Your paint finishes are so intriguing. We love the chalky finish and the colours look so wonderfully shabby chic. All the things you have painted have become completely transformed and look far more expensive than what you purchased them for. It just shows what can be achieved with imagination and good paint.

Oh my goodness, you have been a very very busy girl!!! That's more than I could complete in a year! Every piece is lovely! Cant' wait to see what you put in your online shops. And your flowers are looking beautiful too!

I've not heard of Annie Sloane but the painting you have done looks fab. It's so nice seeing all those pretty blooms in your garden. It makes me think I might need a few more tulip bulbs for my garden :)

I'm going over the week mark! Family in town and the reasons for them being here have me a bit tied up at the moment, difficult to post.I love your painted pieces Gil, wish I had the gumption to take on such projects...I always admire those that do, and now you're in with that lot!Enjoy the holidays and time with your daughter...it will be a lovely Easter!!!xo J~